Česká Republika Czech Republic

1. Česká RepublikaCzech Republic

2. The CzechRepublicis a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east. • Capital City: Prague (1 mil. peaple) • total area : 78 867 km2 • population: 10 526 685 • currency: czech crown • member of NATO since 1999 • of the European Union since 2004

3. President Václav Klaus National anthem Kde domov můj, kde domov můj? Voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj! Where is my home, where is my home? Water roars across the meadows, Pinewoods rustle among crags, The garden is glorious with spring blossom, Paradise on earth it is to see. And this is that beautiful land, The Czech land, my home, The Czech land, my home.

4. The current Czech Republic comprises three historical lands: Bohemia (Čechy) in the West, Moravia (Morava) in the South-East, and Czech Silesia (Slezsko; the smaller, south-eastern part of historical Silesia, most of which is located within modern Poland) in the North-East. Jointly, these 3 parts can be described as "Czech lands", with the Czech language being spoken in all three.

5. History of the Kingdoms • Before the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century this area was inhabited by Germanic and Celtic tribes. A lot of rulers and kings ruled the people in Bohemia from the 7th to the 19th century. The most significant ones were emperor Charles IV and emperor Rudolf II. During the reign of Charles IV (1346 - 78), as king of Bohemia and Holy Roman emperor, Prague grew into one of the largest cities in Europe. It acquired its fine Gothic face and landmarks including Charles University, Charles Bridge and St. Vitus Cathedral. In the second half of the 16th century the city experienced great prosperity under emperor Rudolf II and was made the seat of the Habsburg Empire. Rudolf II established great art collections and famous artists and scholars were invited to his court.

6. History of the Republic • At the beginning of the 20th century Bohemia was a part of Austrian Empire. After World War I in 1918 Czechoslovakia declared its independence. The new republic had three parts: Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia. The popular Tomáš Garigue Masaryk became the first president. In October 1938 the Nazis occupied the Sudetenland, with the acquiescence of Britain and France, after the infamous Munich Agreement. In March 1939 Germany occupied Bohemia and Moravia. Slovakia proclaimed independence as a Nazi puppet state. After World War II in 1945 Czechoslovakia was reestablished as an independent state. In the 1946 elections, the Communists became the largest party with 36% of the popular vote and formed coalition government. In 1948 the Communist staged coup d'etat and Czechoslovakia became a communist country.

7. History of the Republic • In the 1960s Czechoslovakia enjoyed a gradual liberalisation under the reformist general secretary of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, Alexander Dubček. But this short period was crushed by the Warsaw Pact forces occupation with the exception of Romania, which refused to participate, in August 1968. In 1969 the reformist Dubček was replaced by the orthodox Gustáv Husák and Czechoslovakia remained a communist country under the Soviet influence. The communist government resignated in November 1989 after a week of demonstrations known as the Velvet Revolution. The popular Václav Havel was elected president of the republic. At the end of 1992 Czechoslovakia split into Czech Republic (Bohemia and Moravia) and Slovak Republic (Slovakia). This peaceful splitting is called the Velvet Divorce.

8. Geography • The Czech landscape is exceedingly varied. Bohemia, to the west, consists of a basin drained by the Elbe (Czech: Labe) and the Vltava (or Moldau) rivers, surrounded by mostly low mountains, such as the Krkonoše range of the Sudetes. The highest point in the country, Sněžkaat 1,602 m (5,256 ft), is located here. Moravia, the eastern part of the country, is also quite hilly. It is drained mainly by the Morava River, but it also contains the source of the Oder River (Czech: Odra). • Water from the landlocked Czech Republic flows to three different seas: the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea. The Czech Republic also leases the Moldauhafen, a 30,000-square-metre (7.4-acre) lot in the middle of the Hamburg Docks, which was awarded to Czechoslovakia by Article 363 of the Treaty of Versailles, to allow the landlocked country a place where goods transported down river could be transferred to seagoing ships. The territory reverts to Germany in 2028. • There are four national parks in the Czech Republic. The oldest is Krkonoše National Park (Biosphere Reserve), Šumava National Park (Biosphere Reserve), National Park Podyjí, České Švýcarsko National Park.

9. Science • The Czech Republic has a rich scientific tradition. Important inventions include the modern contact lens, the separation of modern blood types, and the production of the Semtexplastic explosive. Prominent scientists who lived and worked in historically Czech lands include: • Jan Amos Komenský (1592–1670), educator and national hero, often considered the founder of modern education for his work in pedagogy. • Jan Evangelista Purkyně(1787–1869), anatomist and physiologist responsible for the discovery of Purkinje cells, Purkinje fibresand sweat glands, as well as Purkinje images and the Purkinje shift. • Josef Ressel (1793–1857), inventor of the screw propeller. • Gregor Mendel(1822–1884), often called the "father of genetics", is famed for his research concerning the inheritance of genetic traits. • Otto Wichterle (1913–1998) and Drahoslav Lím (1925–2003), Czech chemists responsible for the invention of the modern contact lens.

10. Music • Music in the Czech Republic has its roots in more than 1000 years old sacred music (first preserved references come from the end of 10th century), in traditional folk music of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia and in long-term high-culture classical music tradition. Since early eras of artificial music, Czech musicians and composers have been often influenced by genuine folk music. Notable Czech composers include Adam Michna, Jan Dismas Zelenka, Josef Mysliveček, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček, Antonín Dvořák, Bohuslav Martinůand Petr Eben. The most famous music festival is "Prague Spring" (Pražské jaro), that has been annually organized since 1946. Adam Michna Bedřich Smetana Antonín Dvořák

11. Sports • Sports play a part in the life of many Czechs, who are generally loyal supporters of their favourite teams or individuals. The two leading sports in the Czech Republic are football (soccer) and ice hockey, both drawing the largest attention of both the media and supporters. Tennis is also a very big sport in the Czech Republic. The many other sports with professional leagues and structures include basketball, volleyball, team handball, track and field athletics and floorball. • Sport is a source of strong waves of patriotism, usually rising several days or weeks before an event and sinking several days after. The events considered the most important by Czech fans are: the Ice Hockey World Championships, Olympic Ice hockey tournament, UEFA EuropeanFootball Championship, FIFA World Cup and qualification matches for such events. In general, any international match of the Czech ice hockey or football national team draws attention, especially when played against a traditional rival: Germany and Netherlands in football; Russia, Sweden and Canada in ice hockey; and Slovakia in both.

12. State And Public Holidays • January 1st Independent Czech State Renewal Day, New Year • Variable Easter Monday • May 1st Labour Day • May 8th National Holiday - Liberation Day (1945) • July 5th National Holiday - Cyril and Methodius Day - the Slavic Christianity Day • July 6th National Holiday - Master John Hus burning at the stake (1415) • September 28th National Holiday - Czech Statehood Day • October 28th National Holiday - Independent Czechoslovak State Proclamation Day (1918) • November 17th National Holiday - Day of Fight for Freedom and Democracy • December 24th Christmas Eve • December 25th Christmas Day • December 26th St. Stephen's Day

13. Základní škola a Mateřská škola, Szkoła Podstawowa, Przedszkole Košařiska, příspěvková organizaceKošařiska 70k projektu Comenius 2010-2012